West Riding Group EGB

 BRODSWORTH SOCIAL RIDE

Sunday 19^th October 2008

 Sue Headland found a good venue with hard standing with the co-operation of the Brodsworth park warden with enough room for most of the trailers with some parking just outside the car park on the access road.  The start of the ride was through the Brodsworth Country Park, an ideal place to take a young or nervous horse as there is no traffic and it is reasonably quiet.

 The route took the riders around the surrounding countryside finishing with another loop around the Country Park.

 The weather was fine but cold which made the homemade soup provided by Sue all the more welcome.

 Everyone seemed have a good time.  Thanks very much to Sue for organising this. 

25k	Jackie Rose	Baxter
25k	Pat Dodd	Pheonix Playboy
25k	Stacey Bushell	Alex
25k	Kath Lomas	Cadah IBN Ahmoun
25k	Lisa Vallance	Moody blue
20k	Mike Dennett	George
20k	Rachel Clapham	Unknown
20k	Michelle Wilson	Unknown
20k	Val Swann	Hamdanier
20k	Anna Pheonix	Ellie
20k	Jacqueline Pheonix	Midnight
20k	Louise Wightman	Summer
20k	Bev Corrigan	Zoes' Flight
20k	Mark Corrigan	Caffrey's
20k	Karen Hobson	Macky
20k	Hannika Minto	Jake
20k	Thomas Dennett	Bobby
20k	Margot Fielden	Tara
20k	Jessie Story	Chester
20k	Zoe Woof	Oliver
20k	Adele Newlove	Corky
20k	Alison Harris	Orrie
20k	Rebecca Westwood	Ben
20k	Lauren Creasser	Saffi
20k	Tricia Laidler	Foxy

 

Cumbria Challenge 30/31^st August 2008

This ride is well worth the journey if only for the gallop at the side of the lane that runs in the area between the M6 when drivers toot and wave at you from a safe distance!

 The corralling area is in a sheltered walled field with plenty of grazing.  Camping and parking just outside on the open fells.  This is open to the extremities of the Britis climate but we were blessed with good weather this year – well at least until we had finished the ride on Sunday and the rain came down for the presentation and packing up!

 It is quite a walk up to the actual venue but on the bright side this loosens up any stiff muscles both in the rider and the horse. 

 The route is really good and can be ridden with confidence.  It takes in both open fell, minor roads and some pretty villages; one with a very useful ford for replenishing water containers as well as a passing paddle and drink.

 Day 1 had up to 81 km CR classes and West Riding Group members successful that day were:

 81 km CR       Emma Martin             CAA Khalil                 12.3 kph         Grade 3

 40 km CR       Vicky Atkinson           Vlaq Zamin                12.5 kph         Completion

 Day 2 also included the Cumbria Challenge 81 km ER, successful West Riding Group members were:

 81 km ER       Julie Martin                Solitaire’s Star              16.3 kph     5^th

 65 km CR       Jenny Vesey              Beckmeetingskharuba 13.5 kph     Grade 1

                        Sue Headland           LTF Kalisha                   13.4 kph     Grade 1

 40 km CR       Vicky Atkinson           Vlaq Zamin                    13.3kph      Completion

 Hopefully this ride will continue and next year host some longer distance ERs as well as all the usual CRs and we hope that you will support this wonderful ride – well worth trying at least once.

 Julie Martin

 

Held 24th August 2008, you really should have been there!  You really missed a truly fantastic ride which was enjoyed by all.  Go on, make sure it's in your calendar for next year!

 

Bank Holiday Monday wouldn’t it be nice to take the horses in the trailer down to the Tran Pennine Trail, Emma suggested.  It was a horrible day with snow on the ground, strong winds and more snow forecast – yes I thought Wharncliffe would be nice in the woods sheltered from the wind by the trees – oh no says Emma lets go do the Longdendale part of the trail and park at Torside car park.  Grumble, grumble all right then says I.

 

Horses in the trailer and off we go, first of all Emma goes wrong way – too busy nosing at people and police cars, I grumble all the way: hate the Woodhead Pass; hate the wind; look at that massive black cloud where we are going (Derbyshire!); wanted to go in the woods; grumble grumble grumble!  Get to the car park and it is very busy – where can we park – nowhere – OK for a little box but nowhere safe for a trailer especially with lots of people around AND you have to pay to park – guess who had no money. 

 

After a spending a good few minutes sussing it out and Emma very carefully turned the trailer around and we headed off back over the Woodhead Pass, back to the sunshine and blue skies (Yorkshire!!!) not quite to Wharncliffe but to Dunford Bridge where we had loads of room to park the trailer and it was FREE!  So we had a lovely ride on the TPT all the way up to Finkle Street and turned round and came home!

The run up to this ride wasn’t the best I’ve ever had: promotion at work meant I was working full time with a longish commute most days, my mother was ill in bed with her funeral arrangements ready on the bedside cabinet (see put it away later!) and then to cap it all I was ill as well two day before the ride.  So feeling not too brilliant and thinking about how bad the weather had been last year – gale force winds, snow, sleet and rain – Emma and I left our field, once more in very strong winds, for the journey to Nottinghamshire.  We were pleased to find that the nearer we got to the venue the lighter the winds became and before very long it became obvious that it was going to be a lovely day!

 

I like the venue for this ride, there is plenty of room for parking and the vetting is away from the hustle and bustle of the parking area with a nice walk to it for the horses to stretch their legs and settle down.  The going was slightly heavier than usual due to all the rain that we have had this winter and probably because we had such a wet summer last year as well.  But this was only in small pockets and in general you could keep up a good speed.  Emma was riding Khali for the first time since May last year and we were keen to see how he would go and if he would trot up sound at the end.

 

Terry Headland was performing a multi crewing task and we were very pleased to see him at the crew point with water and slosh.  Jilly always drinks very well on rides and in fact nearly had me in a puddle at this ride when she put on the brakes very quickly and slid into it so she could have a drink.  Even Khali had a drink so it was much appreciated.

 

At the half way hold we wasted a lot of time trying to get the heart rate monitors to work and in the end just went to the vet’s without getting a decent reading.  Both horses were fine and trotted out well and were eager to get back for their mid-ride snack, Jilly likes snack time!  It was soon time to tack up and get out for the second half and the horses seemed to enjoy it just as much the second time around with Jilly even jumping logs in spectacular fashion.  When Khali got a little bit tired Jilly took the lead and trotted out well in front.  They do like to take it in turns and keep each other going.

 

It seemed no time at all before we were back at the venue and getting ready for the final vetting.  Khali’s heart rate was quite high at 59 but we knew he wasn’t as fit as Jilly but we were really only wanting to see if he was sound after all his problems last year – and he did we were delighted.  I was amazed when the vet said Jilly’s heart rate was 40 – most unusual for her – then she did a very nice trot out for me so I was well pleased – a Grade 1.

 

A really good ride, well marked and well organised and made even nicer when you picked up your rosettes to find an easter egg as well!!

Ride Report

 

After a night in luxury accommodation (ie stable at Aunty Linda’s rather than usual field) 25 miles from the venue, we arrived to discover I was the only one in the 65 k class.  For those who have not been to Kelstern before the venue is on an old air field an is notorious for being exposed.  Yes it was exposed but not as much as our field so it didn’t bother Jake and I too much.  Jake had a little bit of mud fever which I thought my preclude him from doing longer class however Lucille (vet) had no concerns which meant I was still doing the 65 class.  Before I could change my mind due to wind and rain I was saddled up and off. 

 

Within five minutes I was confused the map and the arrows didn’t correspond so I chose to follow my map (wrong move!).  I continued to follow my map for about 30 minutes or so with no arrows to be seen.  Eventually I could see some riders up ahead who turned out to be no other than Ally and Amber Sole.  They had set off over 15 minutes after me and had followed the arrows.  I could not understand what had happened. We continued to ride together until the route split as they were doing the 54 k class.  Before we split Linda phoned me to see where I had got to as she was worried she had missed me.  When we met Linda Jake wasn’t interested in a drink but did have a little snack.  We left arranging to meet further along the route however 10 minutes later Linda rang me again to tell me her car wouldn’t start and that she had arranged for someone to come out to help her and arranged with the organiser for someone to crew me at the venue.

 

Jake and I really enjoyed the 32 k loop which was mainly quiet country lanes and bridleways on undulating ground.  We bowled along at a consistent pace returning to the venue after 2 hrs 30 mins.  Linda had been rescued and was back at the venue ready to crew us.  We vetted pretty much straight away with a heart rate of 46 bpm and more importantly sound!  I was so pleased after so many eliminations last year.  After a cold 30 minute hold with Jake well rugged up eating away, we were off again knowing we would probably not see anyone out on route.  Jake felt good and this time we followed the arrows but I still couldn’t understand where I had gone wrong. 

 

Linda had decided to take my car to crew me and at the last crew point Jake had a good drink (the first time he had really had a drink).  This seemed to pick him as he had started to get a little tired.  The checkpoints were pleased to see me as I was the last rider out.  Towards the end Jake didn’t want to go on the wet verges which he was finding tough going so I ended up doing more road work than I would have wanted but he seemed much happier.  We were back at the venue in about 2 hrs 10 minutes due to not having the orienteering section!   Due to weather conditions I decided to vet Jake straight away after taking his tack off and giving him a drink.  His heart rate was 51 bpm and again he was SOUND!!  Yippee.  Got Jake comfy and in the trailer out of the wind and picked up my master card – Grade 3 at 13.28 kph.  Not bad for first ride of the season. 

 

About to go then I realised I had not asked Jane about the route.  Showed her the map I had and she apologised saying that it was an old map and I shouldn’t have had it!  It meant I had done an extra 2 k.  I said it doesn’t matter - nothing could affect my jubilation on getting round sound.  I was amazed at how little the ride had affected me physically and how easy I found the trot up at the end.  Getting fit and losing over a stone made it easier for me and no doubt easier for Jake!  Roll on the next ride! 

 

‘Fancy Dress optional but preferred’ said the entry form. That was all the encouragement I need to drag Lisa Vallance along to Fantasy World to choose our outfits. Lisa soon got into the swing of things refusing my easy option of musketeers and instead I was given a crinoline lady outfit, complete with powdered wig, whilst Lisa ended up with a jesters costume with accompanying bells.

 

Unfortunately I didn’t read the form adequately to note the correct start time so we arrived one hour early. Luckily by the time Alison, ride organiser, had arrived the rain and cleared so Lisa and I were able to tack up Kalisha and Nightmare and set off.  We had a short amount of roadwork to adjust our dress; Lisa’s bells kept hitting her teeth, before a lovely up hill canter along the common. We met some surprised locals whilst crossing the road who were waiting for the roadrunners they did a double take and then camcordered the strange pair of riders. Along a track, past some pigs then through a farmyard and into Badsworth. It seemed no time at all until we reached the disused railway line, unfortunately both Nightmare and Kalisha know this stretch and set off at a fair lick! The inside netting on the wig had to be unpicked to accommodate my riding hat and unbeknown to me the net had slowly moved up and over my hat to slowly descend down my face! I’m afraid Kalisha wouldn’t listen to my ‘slow’ aids so Lisa kept calling ‘low branches left’ or low branches right’ as we thundered along the track. We finally came to a stop when we reached open countryside so I was able to push the netting back over my mask before we reached Upton where the canter down to Rogerthorpe Manor was much more controlled, we then retraced our step back to Ackworth RDA.

 

Alison plied us with generous helpings of Gluwien and Christmas cake which just hit the spot.

 

Thank you Alison for organising a lovely ride and the weather gods for the blue skies.

 

Next year Members please join us in our frivolity, its lovely to put smiles on villages faces so many people laughed along with us.

 

Sue